Hiking Boots

All my life, at least until I entered college, my parents took care of all my expenses. In college, my parents paid my tuition fees (which were relatively modest, being a public university) but I otherwise managed to support myself by doing internships and teaching tuition classes. For a short while, I had a research stipend which allowed me to live comfortably if not luxuriously.

All my life, I have never owned more than three pairs of covered shoes at a time: formal shoes, trainers and football boots. I have trekked in the Himalayas in trainers – one trail took us to over 18,000 ft – and maintained, not without a touch of disdain, that only people who were not surefooted enough needed specialized boots for hiking.

And now, for climbing a puny 2,930 ft mountain in Wales, I bought myself a pair of hiking boots.

This is what happens when you are gainfully employed.